UFC Signals Split with Michael ‘Venom’ Page After Removing Him from Rankings
MVP may officially not be a part of the UFC anymore after the organization removed him from eligibility rankings, following the end of his UFC contract.
Just two days after securing a unanimous decision victory at UFC Paris, British striking sensation Michael "Venom" Page appears to be on his way out of the UFC. Following his Sept. 5 victory over Nursulton Ruziboev at the Accor Arena, news broke on Monday that the promotion officially removed the London native from its rankings pool.
A leaked internal email sent directly to UFC media ranking panelists confirmed the sudden development, explicitly stating, "Michael Page has been removed from rankings eligibility effective immediately."
The email instructed voters who had Page ranked in their middleweight top 15 to immediately adjust their ballots to ensure a full list of contenders. The timing of the announcement raised immediate eyebrows across the combat sports community, given that Page was fresh off a dominant, convincing performance.
However, the swift move stems directly from his contract status. The 39-year-old veteran completed the final bout of his multi-fight UFC contract in Paris.
In his post-fight press conference, Page candidly admitted there were unresolved issues in his business relationship with promotional executives. It now appears those contract renewal negotiations hit a permanent wall.
Michael 'Venom' Page: The End of an Unorthodox UFC Chapter
While Page originally signed with the UFC following a legendary tenure in Bellator, where he built an iconic reputation for viral highlight-reel knockouts, his time inside the Octagon showcased a far more calculated, tactical evolution.
Holding an impressive 26-3 professional MMA record, MVP proved his elite martial arts skill set seamlessly translated to the highest level of competition. Official UFC stats reflect his defensive wizardry, where he relied on long-range point fighting, maintaining a stellar 62% striking defense rate while successfully picking apart dangerous opponents like Kevin Holland and Jared Cannonier.
Despite failing to score a signature knockout stoppage inside the Octagon, Page’s flashy karate-style stance, creative feints, and unorthodox movement made him an instant fan favorite throughout his brief UFC tenure. His victory over Ruziboev capped off a highly respectable run in the 185-pound middleweight division, proving he could outmaneuver top-tier competition well into his late thirties.
Now entering free agency, the highly entertaining striker will not be short of lucrative promotional suitors. Whether Page decides to test bare-knuckle boxing in BKFC, return to the PFL banner, or pursue marquee crossover fights, his global star power remains undeniable.
Although his Octagon journey proved shorter than many fans anticipated, Page leaves the UFC having proven his worth, remaining one of combat sports' most enigmatic and captivating fan favorites.
